It was further confirmed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah that Saudi Arabia would commence the issuance of Hajj visas to pilgrims across the world starting from February 8, an early launch as part of an accelerated schedule. This is aimed at enhancing services towards the comfort and safety of pilgrims in line with Kingdom Vision 2030 goals.
Pilgrims Services Finalized
The Ministry confirmed that all contracts related to the services for pilgrims were finalized and this included the hotels in Makkah, against the bookings received on the Nusk platform. Some 750,000 pilgrims across the world have registered so far, while 30,000 packages have been booked directly from their respective home countries. This will ensure the overall facilitation of smooth operations at the holy sites.
International Pilgrims Arrangements
A total of 485 camps were allocated for international pilgrims. Moreover, 73 Hajj affairs offices completed their basic contractual arrangement. These preparations include lodging, transport, and other important services to support pilgrims during Hajj.
Arrangements of Hajj in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the government has finished the registration process for 119,000 pilgrims. In addition to this, the registration of 60,000 private pilgrims was also registered. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has just confirmed this information.
Logistics and Support Services
Arrangements for the transportation of food and other essentials have been finalized through a competitive process. In this way, pilgrims ensure that organized and uninterrupted services are provided in line with the Saudi timeline.
Summary
Saudi Arabia has completed major preparations for Hajj by launching visas early, finalizing the pilgrim services. With the registrations completed and the facilities arranged, more than 750,000 pilgrims around the world, including 179,000 from Pakistan, are expected to perform Hajj smoothly and comfortably.